November 26, 2013

Laser Cut Scallop Dress

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Dress / Forever 21 (similar here and here, skirt here, short sleeved skater version here)
Leopard Heels / Windsor Smith
Belt / Sheike
Leopard Clutch / Nine West (also seen here and here)

I wore this little number out to dinner for our 1st year anniversary and it is oh so comfy :)
Apart from the fact that I need to be careful I don't get hooked onto anything, this has the comfiest faux leather with the perfect mix of scallop and laser cut detail that is both feminine and a bit edgy.
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November 21, 2013

Roast Potato Chips

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I love potato in all shapes and forms and this recipe is a quick and easy one for those that love that kettle friend chip taste and texture, but perhaps a healthier option. Also, its such a quick way to add a roast potato-like side dish to any meal, in under 20 minutes.

Roasted Potato Chips recipe

Prep time: 3 minutes
Cooking time: 20 mins (or less)

Ingredients:
  • 1 or 2 large washed Golden Delight Potatoes (or any potatoes labelled best for Roasting)
  • Good quality Olive oil
  • Flakey sea salt
  • Cracked pepper
  • Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
  • 5-6 sprigs of Thyme
Equipment: Baking dish or Lined baking tray & Mandolin slicer

Steps:
  1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees celcius.
  2. Slice up the potatoes on a mandolin slicer on setting #2
  3. Place sliced up potatoes in a large bowl and drizzle a thin stream of olive oil all over.
  4. Sprinkle over a good pinch of flakey sea salt, good pinch of cayenne pepper, season with cracked pepper to taste and then sprinkle over all the thyme leaves. Toss altogether.
  5. Lay all potato slices flat on a baking dish or baking tray. Place in the oven on the second to top rack, for 15-20 mins or until golden and crispy.
  6. Let cool slightly and serve!

This is a perfect accompaniment to a good ol' roast chicken (store bought or home cooked), even place a few chips in a good sandwich, or even just on its own with a side of hot salsa.
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Pencil Skirts for every occasion

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Clockwise from bottom left:


I've been eyeing up a lot of pencil skirts lately in a slow effort to update my day job wardrobe, but have recently come to love the wide range of pencil skirts that is a departure from the normal tubular shape and can be casually dressed down for brunch dates, accessorized up for parties or just generally for any occasion. From fit and flare, to gilded with gold or bronze, or stretchy jersey, it seems there are multiple designs for everyone!

Generally, pencil skirts are great for any body shape, but don't be afraid to size up or down, as I generally find pencil skirt sizing doesn't match top sizing!
I absolutely love all these pencil skirts and have bought a few of these items for myself, while maintaining a watchful sale eye for the others.  There's something so cool about being able to tuck in a t-shirt or a cami into a pencil skirt and throwing on a blazer. This is my slightly downgraded work attire as of late!

I can't believe M.L.P has reached over 400 likes, I am over the moon and delighted at all your support. Thanks for your continued reading and I hope I can keep creating blog posts more and more in the future!

Happy hump day everyone! Is it the end of the week yet? :)
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November 17, 2013

Sequin Polka Dots

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After months of no rain, Sydney has been hit hard with thunderstorms and enough rain to not see the roads clearly and give us unwanted baths for days. While there was a small dry window though we were able to snap some shots!
I'm not impartial to a bit of sequin action, and when this is combined with polka dots, that is it, I must have it.
Pattern mixing has been a huge trend as well, and although I wouldn't normally pair polka dot patterns with a contrasting pattern such as leopard, it can work quite well, as long as you have common colours tying it all through. In this case it was black and orange!

^Sequin Polka Dot Top - J Crew
^Black Pants - Zara (similar here)
^Bright Orange Clutch - ASOS, on sale! (also see Fuschia version here, that you can buy here!)
^Leopard heels - Windsor Smith (Unfortunately not online anymore but some are on ebay!)
We had Bailey watch us as we shot these photos (he was tied up to a nearby street sign pole), and while he barked a lil, I'm pretty sure if we could translate it, he was yelling out that we were bonkers and that this was so boring haha. Ah well, he will just have to get used to being a style shoot groupie :)
We have some friends over from NZ this weekend and since they are eager beaver foodies, we have and will be spending the rest of the weekend just eating every place down. As gluttonous as that sounds, I have no other words to describe what we're doing! So now there really is no excuse to be slack with a workout regime!
Hope you all are having a great weekend so far...dammit the days go by too quick!
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November 09, 2013

Rhubarb Bellini

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This weekend's a cause for celebration as it marks exactly one year since I married my hubaloo Jase :)
So here's a great recipe for all kinds of celebration, a small departure from a traditional Peach Bellini, but a great use of an ingredient that is usually reserved for winter-y type desserts.




Rhubarb Bellini recipe

adapted from Jamie Oliver

Ingredients
  • Rhubarb Puree
- 300gm Rhubarb stalks chopped into small oblong pieces
- 1.5 inches fresh ginger, skin removed and sliced into chunks
- 80gm sugar /
- 2 TBSP water
  • A bottle of Prosecco or any dry Sparkling wine
  • Thyme for garnish
Steps
  1. Place the rhubarb, ginger, water and sugar in a medium saucepan and simmer on a low heat until the rhubarb has softened and is easily squashed when pressed with a fork
  2. Remove the chunks of ginger and pour the pulpy rhubarb mixture into a blender or using a stick blender, blend the mixture until a fine puree, and leave to cool completely
  3. Place a dollop of rhubarb puree into chilled champagne flutes and top up with chilled Prosecco. 
Serve immediately.









I made and tested this cocktail a month ago so rhubarb was still on the supermarket shelves. If you don't use up the rhubarb puree, it's ok... you can use it for mini rhubarb crumbles or plonk a tablespoon on top of your morning porridge/yoghurt/shake. If rhubarb isn't available, how about skip the boiling up process and try a summer fruit blend like nectarine and raspberries?
As I write this, 'Winter Wonderland' is playing in the background on a tv commercial and it has immediately got me in a cheery mood. I'm imagining myself prancing around with nibbly things in one hand, with a champagne flute filled with a refreshing bellini concoction in the other, laughing and chit chatting with friends over the upcoming holiday period. I told Jase the other day that whenever Bing Crosby's 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas' plays, I am immediately in a happy mood. He just rolled his eyes at me. He probably thinks I'm bonkers, because the song could be playing in July and I would still feel the same reaction hehe.

My voice has shot to pieces after being a bit unwell this week, but nothing will get me down in the way of a celebratory tipple! To celebrate our first year anniversary, we're going out to a Japanese restaurant that I've been wanting to go for awhile (unfortunately not Tetsuya... that will have to be saved for another time) and I can't wait to try out what sake or sake based cocktails they have on the menu :)

Cin cin!

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